Hrabosky offers insight into Cards' chances

Former pitcher likes St. Louis young, hard-throwing hurlers

Although Al Hrabosky has served as a color commentator on St. Louis Cardinals baseball broadcasts since 1985, he stubbornly insists he is not a member of the media.

"Have you ever listened to me (on the air)?" said Hrabosky, who pitched for the Cardinals among other major league teams from 1970 to 1982. "I am not a member of the media."

Whether he's a member of the media or not, Hrabosky has the access and experience to offer keen insight into St. Louis' prospects for the upcoming season. Without Albert Pujols and Tony La Russa, new manager Mike Matheny guided St. Louis within one game of a return trip to the World Series in 2012.

"First of all, you've got to remember they were a very good team," Hrabosky said. "You might say they were one game from the World Series, but if you look at a lot of guys, they were extremely disappointed. They had a 3-1 lead (over the San Francisco Giants in the National League Championship Series) and couldn't win the final game. They lost three straight.

"Hopefully, that will give them some incentive to finish the job. They're a good ballclub."

Considering how many games Allen Craig missed because of injury, Hrabosky noted the first baseman's numbers were comparable to Pujols' with the Los Angeles Angels.

He wasn't surprised by Matheny's success in his first year as manager.

"The position of catcher prepares you to manage," Hrabosky said. "I wasn't surprised he did what he did, with the disclaimer of the second Wild Card."

Despite the recurrence of Chris Carpenter's nerve disorder that likely will cost him all of this season and perhaps end his career, Hrabosky is high on the Cardinals' deep pitching staff.

"I've been around a long time — since the late 1960s — and I have never seen so many hard-throwing young pitchers," Hrabosky said. "They just lack experience."

He noted young flamethrowers such as Joe Kelly and Trevor Rosenthal temporarily passed highly regarded Shelby Miller in the eyes of the brain trust, giving him tremendous incentive to improve. Further removed from Tommy John surgery, Adam Wainwright once again should dominate, Hrabosky said.

"The biggest question is Jaime Garcia's health," Hrabosky said of the lefty, who struggled with shoulder issues last season.

He's also concerned about the throwing elbow of shortstop Rafael Furcal, which pressed rookie Pete Kozma into action. Kozma had one amazing month offensively, but Ronny Cedeno was picked up as insurance.

"The last three weeks (of the regular season Kozma) helped carry the team," Hrabosky said. "They couldn't have gone to the postseason without what he did, without his big hit in Game 5 against Washington (in the Division Series)."

Second base is probably the only position where you don't know who is going to start, Hrabosky said.

"Kolten Wong could be the answer in the next two years," Hrabosky said.

For now, a mixture of Daniel Descalso or Matt Carpenter could be the answer.